Lord of the Dance agent shot dead by robber

A member of Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance production has been shot dead by an armed robber outside his hotel in Johannesburg.

The merchandising executive, aged 37, was approached by a man who shot him three times at close range and stole his laptop computer.

The incident happened as the man, who has not been named, returned to the Parktonian Hotel in the city's business district where he had been staying during the show's South African tour. He died on the spot, surrounded by colleagues who were unable to resuscitate him.

Mr Flatley was not on the tour, having retired several years ago. But a spokesman said: "Michael has decided to board the first flight to South Africa to join up with the troupe, who are in pieces.

"The remaining three weeks of the tour are at risk of being cancelled."